Aimed at businesses, and industrial users, the Compute Module is used to embed a Raspberry Pi into systems and commercial products. The Compute Module uses a standard DDR2 SODIMM (small outline dual in-line memory module) form factor. GPIO and other I/O functions are routed through the 200 pins on the board.

The new Compute Module 3+ sports the Broadcom BCM2837B0 chip, albeit clocked at 1.2GHz and with 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM.

Compute Module 3+ eMMC storage options

Compute Module 3+ is an “opportunity to deploy designs in environments with a wider range of temperatures,” says Eben, and engineers can “drive the chip harder, for longer, without hitting thermal limits.” The operating temperature range now ranges from -20 to +70 degrees C.

The new models also boast expanded on-board storage. Models are available with 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB of on-board eMMC flash memory.

A Compute Module 3+ Lite option remains available. Users wire the module pins up to an eMMC or SD card. “Lite accounts for around a quarter of Compute Module sales,” reveals Eben.

Compute Module 3+ price

Customers have been requesting larger storage options, and the new models are sure to be popular with media and data-logging developers. “With flash prices falling, it felt like a good time to address this,” says Eben. “We’ll have Lite, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB options at $25, $30, $35, and $40 respectively. At the high end, that’s a lot of fun for $40.”

A separate Raspberry Pi Compute Module I/O board can be purchased to aid development. This breakout board provides the various ports you would find on a Raspberry Pi (such as GPIO pins, HDMI, USB, Camera, and Display).

The Compute Module I/O board helps with development by providing the various ports you would find on a Raspberry Pi

A Raspberry Pi CM3+ Development kit will also be available. It consists of a Raspberry Pi Compute Module I/O board, CM3+/32GB module, CM3+/Lite module, Display adapter, and Camera adapter. Pricing is to be announced.